of ingratitude, a real concern for your future happiness, and respect for the worthy man whose service you have deserted, all conspire together to agitate my mind to different purposes; but paternal affection becomes predominant, and I am obliged to act as your friend, although I am afraid you have considered me as your enemy. I have written to your master, and have just received his answer, a copy of which I enclose. Your master is willing again to receive you into his service, and I hope that your behaviour will be correspondent to so much lenity.

I am your affectionate father.

LETTER 17.

The Father's letter to the Master.

MY WORTHY FRIEND,

I have often written to you with pleasure, but alas! I am constrained at present to address myself to you on a subject I little expected. I have recently received a letter from my son, by which I am informea that he has left your service through the instigation of evil company. his letter contains a penitential acknowledgement of his offence, together with a declaration of his resolution to act consistently for the future. He has begged me to intercede with you in his behalf, and I know your humanity will excuse paternal affection. If you will again receive the unhappy youth into your family, I have great reason to hope that his conduct will be equal to his promises; and it will confer a lasting obligation on an afflicted parent, and oblige

SIR,

LETTER 18.

The Master's Answer.

Your sincere friend.

Ever since I first considered the state of human nature, or the difference between right and wrong, I have always preferred mercy to the severity of justice. However reasonable your request may be to your self, yet to me it was really unnecessary. I am a father, sir, and can feel, at least, part of what you suffer. My resentment against the young man is less than my anxiety for his happiness; and were I sure of his adhering to an uninterrupted course of virtue, I should have more real pleasure than his acquiring me the wealth of a nabob.

In the mean time, that nothing may be wanting on my part, to mak" both him and you as happy as possible, all faults are from this momen forgotten; my house is open for his reception; and, if he will return he shall be treated with the same indulgence as if he had never com mitted any fault whatever. I am your affectionate friend.

LETTER 19.

From a Mother in town, to a Daughter at school in the country, recommending the practice of Virtue.

DEAR CHILD,

Although we are separated in person, yet you are never absent from my thoughts and it is my continual practice to recommend you to the

care of that Being, whose eyes are on all his creatures, and to whom the secrets of all hearts are open; but I have been somewhat alarmed because your two last letters do not run in that strain of unaffected piety as formerly. What, my dear, is the reason? Does virtue appear unpleasant to you? Is your beneficent Creator a hard task master, or are you resolved to embark in the fashionable follies of a gay, unthinking world? Excuse me, my dear, I am a mother, and my concern for your happiness is inseparably connected with my own. Perhaps I am mistaken, and what I have considered as a fault, may be only the effusions of youthful gaiety. I shall consider it in that light, and be extremely glad, yea, happy to find it so. Useful instructions are never too often inculcated, and, therefore, give me leave again to put you in mind of that duty the performance of which alone can make you happy both in time and in eternity.

Religion, my dear, is a dedication of the whole soul to the will of God, and virtue is the actual operation of that truth, which diffuses itself through every part of our conduct; its consequences are equally beneficial as its promises: "Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace."

Whilst the gay, unthinking part of youth are devoting the whole of their time to fashionable pleasures, how happy shall I be to hear, that my child was religious, without hypocritical austerity, and even gay with innocence. Let me beg that you will spend at least one hour each day, in perusing your Bible, and some of our best English writers; and do not imagine that religion is such a gloomy thing as some enthusiasts have represented; no, it indulges you in all rational amusements, not inconsistent with morality: it forbids nothing but what is hurtful. I beg that you will consider attentively what I have written, and write to me as soon as possible. Your anxious mother

HONORED MOTHER,

LETTER 20.

The Answer.

I am so much affected by the perusal of your kind parental advice, that I can scarcely hold the pen to write an answer; but duty to the best of parents obliges me to make you easy in your mind before I take any rest to myself. That levity, so conspicuous in my former letters, is too true to be denied; nor do I desire to draw a veil over my own folly. No, madam, I freely confess it, but, with great sincerity, I must at the same time declare, that they were written in a careless manner, with out considering the character of the person to whom they were addressed; I am fully sensible of my error, and, on all future occasions shall endeavor to avoid giving the least offence. The advice you sent me in your valuable letter, needs no encomium; all that I desire, is, to have it engraven on my heart. My dear madam, I love religion, I love virtue, and I hope no consideration will ever lead me from those duties, in which alone I expect future happiness. Let me beg to hear from you often, and I hope that my whole future conduct will convince the best of parents that I am what she wishes me to be.

Your affectionate and dutiful daughter

LETTER 21.

From an Officer in the navy to his Son at school. DEAR WILLIAM,

Our frigate is now lying in the harbor of New-York, and we are ordered to sail immediately for the Mediterranean. I thought to have called on you at school, but our orders to sail were so sudden, the 1 had no time to spare from the necessary duties of my station Let me beg, my dear, that you will attend with the utmost assidy to your studies. Youth is the proper time for acquiring knowledge, which, if properly improved, and reduced to practice, will be of the utmost service to you in your future life; you are yet unacquainted with the world, and happy will it be for you, you remain ignorant of the evils and dangers of a seafaring life. Let me therefore intreat you, in the most earnest manner, to think of some employment which will procure you a decent subsistence, and enable you to live independently in the world. I have left an order with our agent to pay for your education; and although my pay is small, yet nothing on my part shall be wanting to make your situation as easy as possible. As it will be some days before we sail, I shall expect to have a letter from you, and if too late, it will be sent after me. In the mean time, I am your affectionate father.

HONORED SIR,

LETTER 22.

The Son's Answer.

It was one of the first lessons you taught me, that gratitude is the noblest principle that can actuate the heart of man; but what must it be when connected with filial duty incumbent on a son to the most indulgent parent! I am left in a situation that may be felt, but not described. That my fond worthy parent should be so precipitately hurried away to a distant country, almost overpowers me; especially when I consider that I may never have an opportunity of seeing you any more. 1 am convinced that your friendly advice to me is such, that if strictly followed, must be attended with the most beneficial consequences to myself; my honor and happiness will equally depend on adhering to it, and I shall always consider it as my second greatest duty, to obey the precepts of my worthy father.

I have got so far in my studies as to be able to read Xenophon, and next week I enter upon Homer. I have some thoughts, if agreeable to you, to take lodgings, in order to study the law; my inclinations_run that way, but I subunit it wholly to your approbation. Pray let me hear from you as often as possible, as it will be the greatest pleasure that you can afford Your affectionate and dutiful son.

LETTER 23.

From a Young Gentleman, clerk to a merchant in town, to his Father in the country, soliciting pocket money.

HONORED SIR,

I wrote to you by Mr. Ball, the dry goods trader, but not having received any answer, I am disappointed. Although I have been as good

an economist as possible, yet I find the pocket money you allowed me to take from Mr. Hovey, monthly, is not sufficient to support my necessary expenses, although it was so at first. New-York is such a place, tha unless one maintains something of a character, they are sure to be treated with contempt, and pointed at as objects of ridicule. I assure you sir, that I abhor every sort of extravagance, as much as you can desire, and the small matter which I ask as an addition to your former allowance, is only to promote my own interest, and which, I am sure, you have as much at heart as any parent possibly can. My master will satisfy you, that my conduct has been consistent with the strictest rules of morality. I submit it to your judgment what you think proper to order me. I did not choose to mention my want of money to Mr. Hovey, and for that reason, have not taken any thing more than you ordered; I hope you will not be offended with what I have written; as I shall always consider myself happy in performing my duty, and acquiring the favor of my honored parents. I am, honored sir, your affectionate son.

MY DEAR CHILD,

LETTER 24.

The Father's Answer.

My reason for not sending to you sooner was, that I had been on a Journey to your uncle at Philadelphia, where I was detained longer than I expected, and consequently, did not see your letter till last night. have considered your request, and am convinced that it is altogether reasonable: you are greatly mistaken if you think that I wanted to con fine you to the small matter paid by Mr. Hovey-no; it was indeed inadvertency; but my constant residence in the country renders me little acquainted with the customs of New-York. I do not desire to confine you to any particular sun; you are now arrived at an age when it becomes absolutely necessary for you to be well acquainted with the value of money, your profession likewise requires it; and it is well known that prudence and sobriety in youth, naturally lead to regularity of conduct in more advanced life. Virtue insures respect, and, as I well know that all manner of precepts are useless where the inclinations are vicious, I have left the affair mentioned in your letter entirely to your own discre tion; and as the enclosed order is unlimited, I hope prudence will direct you how to proceed. Your affectionate father

LETTER 25.

From a young Tradesman, lately entered into business, to his Father, asking his consent to marry.

HONORED SIR,

You know that it is now above a year since I entered into business for myself, and finding it daily increasing, I am inclined to look out for an agreeable partner-I mean a wife. There is a very worthy family in this neighborhood, with whom I have been some tine acquainted. They are in good circumstances, and have a daughter, an amiable young woman, greatly esteemed by all who know her; have paid my addresses to her, and likewise obtained the parents' consent, on condition that it is agreeable to you. I would not do any thing of that nature

without your consent; but I hope that upon the strictest inquiry you will find her such a person as you will approve. I, on every occasion, en. deavor to act with the greatest prudence, consistent with the rules you were pleased to prescribe for my conduct. The parents are to pay me one thousand dollars on the day of marriage, if the event should happen to take place; and as they have no other children, the whole of their property becomes ours at their death. In whatever light you are pleased to consider this, 1 shall abide by your direction, and your answer a the mean time is anxiously expected by Your dutiful son.

MY DEAR SON,

LETTER 26.

The Father's Answer.

I received your letter, and my reason for not sending you an answer sooner, is, that it being an affair of great importance, I was willing to proceed therein with the utmost caution. I wrote to Mr. Johnson, my attorney in New-York, desiring him to inquire concerning the family you desire to be allied with ; and I am glad to hear that his account does not differ from your own. I hope you do not think that I would desire to see you one moment unhappy. Your wish to enter the marriage state is natural and meets my approbation, and I am glad to hear that the person on whom you have placed your affection is so worthy. When you have fixed the wedding-day I will come to New-York to be present at the ceremony, and spend a few days with my old friends. I hope you will continue to attend to your business with the same diligence you have hitherto done; and if you should live to an old age, you will then be able to retire from business with honor both to yourself and family. I am your affectionate father.

LETTER 27.

From a young Woman just gone to service in New-York, to her Mother in the country.

DEAR MOTHER,

It is now a month that I have been at Mr. Eastman's, and I thank God that I like my place so well. Mr. and Mrs. Eastman are both worthy people and greatly respected by all their neighbors. At my first coming here I thought every thing strange, and wondered to see such multitudes of people in the streets; but what I suffer most from is, the romembrance of your's and my father's kindness; but I begin to get more reconciled to my state, as I know you were not able to support me at home. I return you a thousand thanks for the kind advice you were so kind to give me at parting, and I shall endeavor to practice it as long as I live; let me hear from you as often as you have an opportunity; so with my duty to you and my father, and love to all friends,

MY DEAR CHILD,

I remain ever, your most dutiful daughter

LETTER 28.

The Mother's Answer.

I am glad to hear that you have got into so good a family. You